Engine waste gas treatment method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

An engine waste gas treatment method and apparatus is disclosed to install an ozone generator in a motor vehicle and electrically connect the ozone generator to the power circuit of the motor vehicle and to connect a shunt pipe between the zone generator and the exhaust pipe of the motor vehicle so that when the motor vehicle is started, the ozone generator starts to generate ozone that is guided by the shunt pipe into the exhaust pipe of the motor vehicle to mix with exhausted engine waste gas, decomposing volatile organic compounds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to car engine waste gas treatment technology and more particularly, to an engine waste gas treatment method and apparatus that effectively decompose volatile organic compounds discharged from a car engine, reducing air pollution.

2. Description of the Related Art

A car engine, either gasoline engine or diesel engine, discharges a big amount of waste gas to pollute the atmosphere during operation. Exhaust gases in the atmosphere cause a greenhouse effect, i.e., the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences. A strong greenhouse effect in the atmosphere makes the Earth warmer than usual. An extra warming of the Earth may cause problems for humans, plants, and animals. Since the late 20^(th) century, the strong greenhouse effect in the atmosphere has aroused great concern among people around use. More particularly, the automotive industry has been continuously proposing new measures to reduce the exhaust amount of waste gas. One of the best way to reduce the exhaust amount of waste gas from the diesel engine of a diesel vehicle is to install an exhaust gas purifier in the exhaust pipe of the diesel vehicle. Further, a diesel vehicle uses compression ignition to burn fuel oil or substitute fuel, performing the diesel cycle to convert chemical energy into thermal energy and power output. During combustion, pollutants including PM (particulate matter), smoke, NO_(x) (mono-nitrogen oxides), CO (carbon monoxide), SO_(x) (sodium oxides), CO₂ (carbon dioxide), NC (hydrocarbon) and other waste matters are produced and discharged out of the exhaust pipe into the atmosphere, causing damage to the ozone layer, occurrence of acidic rain and rise in greenhouse effect. In case PM (particulate matter) in exhausted waste gas contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or metal oxides, breathing in such exhausted waste gas may cause lung, bronchi or breathing passage diseases. According to a local air pollution source investigation, 46% of particulate matter and 51% of NO_(x) of mobile source of air pollution came from diesel vehicles. Most big public transportation vehicles are of diesel vehicles. To control discharge of diesel engine waste gas is an important measure to improve air quality.

Further, the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere filters potentially damaging ultraviolet light from reaching the Earth's surface. Ozone is mainly located in the lower portion of the stratosphere from approximately 10 km to 50 km above Earth, though the thickness varies seasonally and geogaphically. Further, ozone is present in low concentrations (0.01˜0.04 ppm) throughout the Earth's atmosphere to prevent abnormal growth of bacteria. However, continuous increase of CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) gas in the atmosphere causes the ozone layer to be seriously weakened. According to investigation, the Earth's surface temperature has raised 2° C. when compared to the record 50 years ago. In consequence, the average environmental magnetic field has dropped from the early 0.5 Gauss to the present 0.45 Gauss.

Further, to meet new vehicle exhaust emission standards, electronic direct ignition system may be used with a nested ceramic filter element to filtrate carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, mono-nitrogen oxides, sodium oxides and black ash particles. When the back pressure surpasses a predetermined value, diesel oil is added to the engine valve outlet to increase the combustion temperature, or added to the inside of the exhaust pipe near the filter element to increase the temperature of the filter element, causing cumulated carbon in the filter elements to be burned out. There is known a technique to add diesel oil to the engine valve outlet to increase the combustion temperature for burning out accumulated particles in the filter element. It is complicated to install an electronic direct ignition system and a nested ceramic filter element in a diesel vehicle. Further, these conventional methods simply reduce the carbon deposition problem. These methods show no effects on reduction of toxicity.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a measure that effectively reduces the toxicity of the discharged waste gas of a motor vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an engine waste gas treatment method and apparatus, which utilizes ozone to decompose volatile organic compounds carried in the waste gas discharged from a vehicle engine, reducing toxicity.

It is well known that ozone is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. Two atoms of oxygen form the basic oxygen molecule that is essential to life. The third oxygen atom can detach from the ozone molecule, and re-attach to molecules of other substances, thereby altering their chemical composition. Further, ozone has many industrial and consumer applications. For example, ozone can be used to remove manganese from water, forming a precipitate which can be filtered. Ozone will also turn cyanides to less toxic cyanates. Further, ozone will also completely decompose urea. Further, ozone generators are practical for use to sanitize and deodorize uninhabited buildings, rooms and motor vehicles. Ozone can be applied to kill bacteria. Ozone can minimize bacterial growth, control parasites and eliminate transmission of some diseases.

In view of the aforesaid ozone advantages, the invention uses the characteristics of ozone for treating the exhausted waste gas of a motor vehicle reduce the toxicity.

To achieve the objects of the present invention, an ozone generator is installed in a motor vehicle and electrically connected to the power circuit of the motor vehicle, and a shunt pipe is connected between the zone generator and the exhaust pipe of the motor vehicle. Thus, when the motor vehicle is started, the ozone generator starts to generate ozone that is guided by the shunt pipe into the exhaust pipe of the motor vehicle to mix with exhausted engine waste gas, decomposing volatile organic compounds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an engine waste gas treatment apparatus installed in the exhaust pipe of a car in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but showing the shunt pipe connected between the ozone generator and the exhaust pipe near the waste gas outlet of the exhaust pipe.

FIG. 3 a schematic sectional view showing an engine waste gas treatment apparatus installed in the exhaust pipe of a motorcycle in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, an engine waste gas treatment method in accordance with the present invention is to install at least one ozone generator 2 in the waste gas discharge path of the exhaust pipe 1 of the (gasoline or diesel) engine of a car. The ozone generator 2 has a shunt pipe 21 affixed to the exhaust pipe 1 near the waste gas inlet 11 of the exhaust pipe 1 for output of generated ozone 4 into the exhaust pipe 1 to mix with discharged waste gas. Thus, generated ozone 4 decomposes volatile organic compounds carried in the discharged waste gas, eliminating or reducing toxicity in discharged waste gas. Thus, the discharged gas that is diffused into the outside open air is nontoxic or less toxic. The ozone generator 2 is electrically connected to the power circuit of the car. When the driver starts the engine of the motor vehicle, the ozone generator 2 is started to generate ozone and to output generated ozone through the shunt pipe 21 into the exhaust pipe 1 to mix with discharged waste gas.

Referring to FIG. 2, the shunt pipe 21 of the ozone generator 2 can be affixed to the exhaust pipe 1 near the waste gas outlet 12 of the exhaust pipe 1 for output of generated ozone 4 into the exhaust pipe 1 to mix with discharged waste gas.

Referring to FIG. 3, the invention can also be employed to a motorcycle. According to this application example, the shunt pipe 21 of the ozone generator 2 is affixed to the exhaust pipe 1 of the engine of a motorcycle (not shown) near the waste gas inlet 11 of the exhaust pipe 1 for output of generated ozone 4 into the exhaust pipe 1 to mix with discharged waste gas.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. An engine waste gas treatment method, comprising the steps of a) providing mounting at least one ozone generator on the exhaust pipe of a motor vehicle and electrically connecting each said ozone generator to the power circuit of said motor vehicle for enabling each said ozone generator to generate ozone when said motor vehicle is started; and b) connecting a shunt pipe between each said ozone generator and the exhaust pipe of said motor vehicle to guide generated ozone from each said ozone generator into the exhaust pipe of said motor vehicle to mix with exhausted engine waste gas.
 2. The engine waste gas treatment method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shunt pipe is connected to the exhaust pipe of said motor vehicle near the waste gas inlet of the exhaust pipe.
 3. The engine waste gas treatment method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shunt pipe is connected to the exhaust pipe of said motor vehicle near the waste gas outlet of the exhaust pipe.
 4. An engine waste gas treatment method used in a motor vehicle for treating the waste gas discharged out of the engine through the exhaust pipe of the motor vehicle, comprising: at least one ozone generator carried in said motor vehicle and electrically connected to the power circuit of said motor vehicle for generating ozone when the engine of said motor vehicle is started; and at least one shunt pipe connected between said ozone generator and the exhaust pipe of said motor vehicle for guiding generated ozone out of said at least one ozone generator into the exhaust pipe of said motor vehicle to mix with exhausted engine waste gas.
 5. The engine waste gas treatment method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said shunt pipe is connected to the exhaust pipe of said motor vehicle near the waste gas inlet of the exhaust pipe.
 6. The engine waste gas treatment method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said shunt pipe is connected to the exhaust pipe of said motor vehicle near the waste gas outlet of the exhaust pipe. 